Gov’t to Take Legal Action against Corona Hoaxes Spreaders

Info graphic on Corona virus (Source: kemkes.go.id)

Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate stated that as of Monday, 3 February 2020, as many as 54 hoaxes about Novel Coronavirus were found on social media and instant messaging platform.

“The monitoring results of the AIS Team of Ministry of Communication and Informatics showed that 54 hoaxes related to Novel Coronavirus have spread online. The contents vary, ranging from the source of the virus, news of Corona patients in hospitals at several regions, as well as cures and prevention methods of the virus,” explained Johnny in Jakarta, Monday (3/2).

Over the past two weeks, the number of hoaxes and disinformation about Corona virus in Indonesia has increased significantly. “Three days ago there were 36 hoaxes and today the number has doubled,” Johnny said.

To stop the spread of the hoaxes, Ministry of Communication and Informatics proactively blocks the content and encourages law enforcement officials to take decisive action against the perpetrators of the spread of hoaxes.

The Minister also reminded citizens not to spread hoaxes. If there is a violation of the provisions of the ITE Law, hoaxes spreaders may be subject to punishment as stipulated in Article 28 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 11 of 2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions in lieu of Article 45 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 19 of 2016 on Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions, which reads:

“Anyone who intentionally and without rights spread false and misleading news which cause consumer losses in Electronic Transactions, is sentenced to a maximum imprisonment of 6 (six) years and / or a maximum fine of Rp1,000,000,000.00 (one billion rupiah) ).” (PR of Ministry of Communication and Informatics/EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana